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Juniker Jewelry Company has an extensive selection of antique and estate jewelry including antique necklaces, rings, bracelets, antique and estate diamonds, platinum jewelry and more. We are qualified to repair and appraise antique and estate jewelry. The antique periods since the mid-1800’s are detailed below with examples of jewelry from the period. We hope the next time you are looking for a truly unique piece, you will let us show you what we have available!
We also want to clear up any confusion about estate jewelry and estate diamonds. Estate jewelry is often confused with antique jewelry, but there is a distinct difference. Our collection has many antique pieces, but we also have estate pieces which may be only a few years old. Estate jewelry is previously owned jewelry that is not yet considered to be antique. Once a piece of jewelry has been worn, it can no longer be sold as new; therefore, it is put into the estate category. This explains how a relatively new piece of jewelry often winds up as in the antique and estate collection even though the piece is not old enough to be antique.
The Antique Periods
Victorian 1837 - 1901 |
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The
Victorian Period reveled in the glory of gold! Manufacturing
allowed jewelry to be mass-produced and most people could afford
jewelry for the first time. Jewelry became more a fashion
statement than just a symbol of wealth. The primary objective of
jewelry was the overall impression of massive golden richness.
Victorian jewelry is easily recognized by the heavy, massive,
solid gold designs. Hair jewelry made was one of the most common
forms of jewelry. Necklaces were made of large round jet or
coral beads with thick gold chains and, often, bold chains were
doubled six and eight times and fastened with thick gold balls
inlaid with jewels. Jewels were of massive size and set flat in
cameo style and brooches of massive proportions were shaped like
round shields. |
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Archaeological excavations of ancient cities dominated Victorian Period jewelry design. Hair ornaments, brooches, bangles, bracelets, cameos, combs, lockets, lightweight jet mourning jewelry, Etruscan designs and Renaissance Revival styles were smothered with work patterns, filigree, laurel leaves, rosettes and more. Long drop earrings with torpedo shaped drops, tassels, or hoops within hoops and multiple bracelets were popular. Chatelaines were a necessary accessory, both ornamental and prestigious, with a large central piece hooked at the waist and chains extending with swivel attachments for household necessities, such as scissors and sewing cases.
Edwardian 1901 -
1910 |
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Jewelry was worn as a statement of entitlement and
luxury during the Edwardian Period. Radiance of white
from diamonds, pearls and white sapphires set in finely
beaded platinum settings dominated. The Edwardian Period
marked the beginning of widespread popularity of
platinum jewelry with delicate, detailed and feminine
styles, light, lace-like patterns and dainty filigree.
Women wore unending fireworks of diamonds and gemstones
cascaded over their hair, face, throat, chest, arms and
dress. What was old was new again with cushion and rose
cut diamonds often set in blackened platinum and blued
steel as “antique” accents. |
Choker type necklaces or “dog collars” of velvet or
ribbon or multiple pearls strands with bars of diamonds
are a classic Edwardian Period ornament. Bracelets
composed of fine circles were covered with diamonds and
precious stones while brooches were dainty and fanciful.
Earrings were as small as possible and, combs ornamented
hairstyles with pearl and precious stones. Jewelry for
men also became popular during the Edwardian period with
men sporting cuff links, vest & stud buttons, watches
and watch chains.
Art Nouveau 1910 - 1919 |
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Art Nouveau was a naturalistic, decorative style period
with influence from all phases of design that provided a
form of expression for designers that seemed unlimited.
All the forces of nature seem to come together to be
captured in the free flowing style! Each piece of
jewelry was art, an expression of the designer, and the
materials used to make jewelry were much less important
than the skill used in its design and execution. There
was a return to handcrafting with simple styles and
sensuous curving designs. Art Nouveau designs in jewelry
incorporate curves, spirals, and flowing lines and there
is heavy use of the female figure with some influence
from Japanese art forms. |
Jewelry was made from opals, moonstones, and semi-precious stones. Materials used had little intrinsic value and horn, copper, tortoise-shell, carved glass, and shells were the most popular in motifs from flowers to animals to women's heads highlighted often by beautiful enameling. Enameled jewelry is highly collectible because people are aware of the time, effort and talent that combine to create this tiny works of art appreciate them and treasure them. Amber beads were popular as were near colorless stones such as opals and moonstones and all types of pearls.
Art Deco 1920 - 1939 |
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Art Deco jewelry is a decorative piece of jewelry. This
style of vintage jewelry is the most sought after
jewelry in the antique collectors’ market today. Many of
today’s white gold and platinum antique reproductions
are designed in the style of the Art Deco Period. The
end of the Art Deco Period also marks the end of cutting
antique diamonds like the old mine cut diamonds and old
European cut diamonds. Strong geometric designs with
striking colors in a wide range of sizes, shapes and
materials are the hallmarks of Art Deco jewelry. These
designs in various proportions of triangles, squares,
diagonals, rectangles, octagons, hexagons and circles
featured bold colors with high contrast combinations.
Delicate filigree patterns in platinum were everywhere. |
Jewelry with black onyx, jade, enamel and rock crystal
was often used with rubies, sapphires, emeralds and
diamonds set in white gold, platinum, chrome or rhodium
to give jewelry a sophisticated look. White gold was
often used because it so resembled platinum, but was
much less expensive.
Gold wedding bands were replaced by platinum ones
engraved with orange blossoms of flowers. For the first
time, matching engagement and wedding rings were
available for women and the custom of men’s wedding
bands was making a comeback. Today, these antique rings
are in high demand with engaged couples. Pearls, always
considered to be in good taste, were an essential for
both day and evening and were by far the most popular
necklaces of the times.
After the Depression, money was tight and emphasis was
placed on the important part jewelry could play in
dressing up an old outfit. Jewelry styles were heavier
and crystals set in white gold and marcasites in silver
provided the glamorous looks dictated by Hollywood. Ring
designs were affected with smaller diamonds placed in
illusion settings to give them a larger look. Wedding
bands, often encircled with diamonds in the twenties,
were set with diamonds only across the top in the
thirties.
Retro Modern 1940 - 1960 |
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Jewelry during the Second World War was chunky, brash
and sensuous. Voluptuous, three-dimensional forms
emerged often made from the combination of pink, green
and yellow gold or rose gold. Crazy with color from
rubies, sapphires, citrines, aquamarines and amethysts,
jewelry was enhanced by creative use of metals, often
textured to resemble mesh, lattice, gauze and basket
weave. Exuberant and flamboyant styles with bows,
scrolls and sweeping curves mark the style of the
period. An all-white, all-diamond look dominated those
with expensive tastes with diamonds were clustered into
huge, curvaceous patterns. This was definitely the era
of the large cocktail ring and cluster ring. |
During the 1950’s, the desire for a brighter future led jewelry to a more lighthearted feel. Delicate swirls and smooth, floating lines characterized jewelry designs while waterfalls, cascades, and flower sprays evoked a sense of dynamic movement. Stylized floral designs studded with gems and worked together with gold filigree wire were popular and jewelry designs took on a more lighthearted feel. Childlike figures like clowns and ballerinas and ocean images of starfish, shells and seahorses were favorites during this time.
During the rebellious 1960’s, people demanded less formal, more modern looking jewelry. Designs remained colorful, but more abstract and rich in texture. Patterns were intricately detailed and styles ranged from geometric designs to the rolling shapes of the psychedelic era. The classic single-strand pearl necklace was a fashion must in the sixties. Gold had a new corded, plaited and twisted look while diamonds, pearls, turquoise, emeralds and sapphires were popular stones. |
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